China Leads Global Box Office in Early 2026
As of Saturday, February 21, 2026, China has emerged as the world's leading film market, with its box office revenue surpassing that of North America. The country's total earnings for the year reached over 7 billion yuan (approximately 970 million U.S. dollars), according to online ticketing platforms. This figure slightly exceeds North America's 938 million U.S. dollars for the same period.
Spring Festival Holiday Fuels Record Growth
The significant surge in revenue is primarily attributed to the ongoing Spring Festival holiday, which commenced on February 15. During this nine-day festive period, holiday ticketing revenue alone has exceeded 4.4 billion yuan, accounting for more than half of China's total box office earnings for the year thus far. The holiday season saw a diverse array of blockbuster films premiere, providing entertainment for family reunions and festive celebrations across the nation.
Top Performers of the Holiday Season
Several films contributed significantly to this record-breaking performance. Topping the Spring Festival sales chart was 'Pegasus 3,' the third installment in director Han Han's racing-comedy franchise, starring actor Shen Teng. The film has garnered more than 2 billion yuan since its debut. Other strong contenders included:
- The spy thriller 'Scare Out,' directed by Zhang Yimou, which secured the second spot with 701 million yuan in box office revenue.
- The martial arts action film 'Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert,' which followed with 577 million yuan.
Cultural Impact and Tourism Boost
The Spring Festival holiday has increasingly seen movie-watching become a popular activity for family gatherings and social interaction. This 'film+' model signifies a maturing holiday consumption structure in China, where moviegoing has evolved into a ritualized cultural activity intertwined with family reunions and experiential travel. Beyond the cinemas, these blockbusters are also reshaping holiday travel patterns, stimulating movie-inspired tourism. For instance, 'Pegasus 3' has led to notable increases in hotel bookings in its filming locations.
5 Comments
Comandante
The Spring Festival holiday clearly provides an unparalleled boost to cinema attendance, showcasing the cultural importance of movies during family gatherings. However, it also highlights a reliance on specific seasonal events, which might make consistent year-round growth harder to maintain.
Mariposa
A captive audience during a national holiday isn't a fair comparison to open markets.
Bermudez
These are just holiday numbers, not indicative of sustainable, year-round dominance.
Africa
So inspiring to see local stories like 'Pegasus 3' resonating and even boosting tourism!
Coccinella
While it's impressive to see China's box office overtake North America, we should consider if this is a temporary holiday surge or a sustained trend. The strong focus on domestic films is clear, but global market penetration is still key for long-term dominance.